Attention docks and harbors users
There's a lot going on with Juneau's docks and harbors right now: proposed rate increases, liveaboard fees, shore power system changes, and lots of Docks and Harbors Board meetings to attend, not only to learn more about what's happening, but to offer comments, ideas and suggestions.

Best access not considered
I am writing to comment on the Juneau Access Project being discussed in our communities. Several things bear mentioning.

Is alcohol the explanation?
All Alaska legislators should not be painted with the same brush, and my comments are of the "if the shoe fits" kind.

Empire needs to be more objective
On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities held a public hearing on the Juneau Access project.

Greeks, Romans got it right
Wow. I was flabbergasted by the pictures of the final four designs for the new Capitol. As a lover of modern architecture, I think they're terrific.

City worries about fast ferry access
Juneau Deputy Mayor Marc Wheeler had to cancel his plans to play in a hockey tournament at Haines Junction in January, because the state pulled the fast ferry Fairweather out of service in a labor dispute Jan. 23.

Photo: Makeover for Seward Street
Ole Taug of Arete Construction works on removing pavement Tuesday from Seward Street in the first phase of the street's $4.58 million makeover.

Images from another time: Studio 221
Juneau dancers left to right, Sybil Davis, Bev Skaggs, Franz Schneider, Barbara Campbell and Theresa Scott practice at the dance Studio 221 on North Franklin Street for the Alaska Statewide Dance festival held in Fairbanks in March of 1986.

Study says schools need more money for teachers
The Juneau School District would receive more money if the Alaska Legislature adopts the recommendations of a new study that looked at geographical differences in energy costs and salaries.

Bill requires voter OK for capitol
When Reps. Bill Stoltze and Carl Gatto heard of Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho's efforts to build a $100 million capitol in Juneau, they proposed having voters' approval of all the costs associated with construction.

My Turn: University lands bill a bad idea
The recent discussion of House Bill 130 in the House Resources Committee demonstrates that transferring high-value public land utilized for recreation, subsistence, tourism, or other commercial uses is poor public policy.

Viking girls edge by Wolves in overtime
Hannah Meucci scored four of her six points in overtime as the Petersburg girls edged visiting Wrangell 38-33 on Saturday for a sweep of their Southeast Conference-Class 3A series.

Sports in Juneau
Sports in Juneau is a service provided by the Juneau Empire to provide information on upcoming sports and outdoors events in Juneau.

New hockey horizons
The sport of sled hockey met the city of Juneau on Tuesday at Treadwell Arena - and it had quite an ambassador.

Quest enters final stage
The top five teams were separated by less than two hours Wednesday night as the leaders of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race reached the final checkpoint before the finish line in Fairbanks.

Committee looks at ballot initiative bill
A bill to put some distance between lieutenant governors and ballot initiative summaries was criticized by Republican members of the Senate State Affairs Committee on Tuesday.

Taylor named ferry chief
Former Sen. Robin Taylor, who once called fast ferries "a cruel joke," has been appointed head of the Alaska Marine Highway System, the state Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

Fishermen fear offshore farms
Juneau resident Richard HofMann has been a salmon troller for almost 30 years and recalls long, noisy disputes with Canadians over transboundary salmon runs.

Photo: And they're off
Jacob White hangs onto the sled Sunday as his dogs take off from the start of the two-dog class race of the Fur Rendezvous Jr. Champion Sled Dog Race in Anchorage.

Taking off on the Web
A few days before New Year's, state employee and local musician Jay Caputo launched the Web site Juneaumusic.com .

Album's relatively cheery (for Buddy)
I listened to Buddy Tabor's 2004 album, "Edge of Despair (A Children's Album)" a few too many times in a row one gloomy night last February, so I was careful to listen to his new record at least 30 feet away from any window ledges or sharp drop-offs.

Clown spreads the universal language of laughter
W hile visiting Singapore in November to represent the United States at the first Clown-Around-The-World Festival, Char-lie the Juggling Clown found time to visit a hospital and prison, on top of his stage schedule.